22 May 2017 Winners named in art contest; reception held at Rialto Gallery

Artists in Our Midst, an art collective formed in 2016 by five local artists and now boasting 250 members, is taking over Morrilton and covering it with art.

A reception was recently held to open the third annual "Arts for the Birds" exhibit at the Rialto Gallery. More than 50 attended the event, which included a banquet, exotic birds and talented artists. Bill Thurman strolled the venue while playing the violin. Bill and Cindy Franklin showed a slide show from a recent bird watching trip to Argentina and Chile. Adrianne Mock entertained participants with his exotic birds.

The winners of the art competition were Miranda Ponder, who won Best of Show with her handmade mask titled "Whoo Are You?" Steve Sitton placed second with a photograph titled "Dinner at the Lake." Jeannie Stone placed first with a large oil painting titled "Mississippi Mud in Your Eye." Brooke Helms Ahart won for her piece titled "Bulk Apperception." The show was curated by Sacred Heart art teacher Katie Bellott.